Enclosed circular knitting machine



Sept. 27, 1966 R. SCHMIDT ENCLOSED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11. 1964 INVENTOR. 9 1,412,1- k'C JZ'LH QULL" United States Patent 3 274 803 ENCLOSED CIRCUIJARKNITTING MACHINE Richard Schmidt, Stnttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, assignor to Franz Murat G.m.b.H., Stuttgart-Vaihingen, German Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 395,750 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 12, 1963, M 58,175 Claims. (Cl. 66168) The present invention relates to an enclosed knitting machine, and more particularly to a circular knitting machine in which the cylinder needles and dial needles operate in an annular chamber.

Knitting machines operate frequently in dusty rooms so that dust is deposited on the needles, and on other mechanical parts which have to move very rapidly.

It is 'one object of the invention to enclose the working area of a knitting machine so that no outside dust can be deposited on the machine.

Another object of the invention is to enclose the working area of the knitting machine in a closed chamber, and to remove the air from the chamber together with dust developed by the threads of which the fabric is knitted.

Another object of the invention is to stir up dust in a chamber surrounding the knitting needles of the machine by blowing air into the chamber, and to remove the turbulent air with the dust from the chamber.

Another object of the invention is to form the chamber in which the knitting area is enclosed, partly of transparent walls permitting inspection of the knitting needles :and knitting operations although the chamber is closed and no dust can enter into the same.

Another object of the invention is to illuminate the chamber to prevent extraneous reflections on the outer surface of the transparent walls of the chamber.

Another object of the invention is to further improve the dust removal by blowing air from the interior of the space surrounded by the needle cylinder through the gap between the needle cylinder and the dial into the chamber surrounding the knitting area so that dust developed by the knitted fabric is blown into the closed chamber surrounding the knitting area from where it can be exhausted.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises a housing forming a chamber around the needle carrying portions of the needle cylinder and of a dial of circular knitting machine in order to prevent dust from settling in the knitting area where the needles operate.

Preferably, the housing includes at least one transparent wall for observation of the knitting operation.

In order to achieve removal of dust produced by the knitting operations, air moving means .are provided for removing air and dust from the chamber surrounding the knitting area.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the means on which the needle cylinder is supported includes an outer annular horizontal wall portion projecting outwardly from the cylinder cam box and having a circular peripheral rim, and the means on which the dial and dial cam box are supported, include a circular top wall having an outer annular rim so that a circular transparent wall can be placed between the tWo rims, permitting observation of the chamber formed in this manner around the needle cylinder and dial.

' Cap wall means on top of the machine form a cavity above the chamber and separated from the same by walls,

and it is preferred to mount in the cavity blower means which blow air through the top wall of the chamber into the same. Exhaust means, such as a suction fan, are con- 3,274,803 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 nected to the lower portion of the chamber to remove the air and the dust stirred up by the :air blown into the chamber. Preferably, additional blower means are provided for blowing air into the inner space surrounded by the needle cylinder and through the gap between the same and dial so that dust is blown oif the fabric and the knitted loops into the chamber to be removed with the other dust and air by the exhaust means. i

It is particularly advantageous to use the cap wall means for supporting thread transporting means which are provided for each knitting station around the periphery of the knitting machine. A thread guide housing between the cap walls and the dial support means is advantageously used for supporting thread guides spaced about the periphery of the machine.

The top wall of the chamber is preferably provided with an outer annular portion formed by ribs and spaces between the ribs, and transparent walls or plates are mounted in this region and further permit observation of the knitting operation within the chamber. Openings are provided in the transparent plates through which the threads pass to the knitting needles.

Preferably, lamps are provided in the chamber to brightly illuminate the same so that reflections on the outer surface of the transparent walls are prevented.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing whose single figure is a fragmentary vertical axial sectional view of a circular knitting machine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The circular knitting machine shown in the drawing has :a central vertical axis XX about which a dial 2 and'the needle cylinder 1 turn in synchronism. Rotary parts are indicated in the drawing by hatching slanted to left, while stationary parts are indicated by hatching slanted to the right.

The general construction of a circular knitting machine of this type is well known, and conventional parts which have no bearing on the present invention are omitted for the sake of clarity and simplicity. The loop forming parts, the various thread guides, thread transporting devices, and thread breakage indicators are not shown in the detail. Means by which a patterned fabric can be produced under control of -a central control station are also omitted. Referring now to the drawing, the needle cylinder 1 is fixedly connected with a gear crown 14 and mounted on a bearing face 51 of a cylinder support ring 7 for rotation about the axis XX. Cylinder support ring 7 also supports the cylinder cam box 5 provided with cams 5a and 50 which form a cam track in which the butts 3a of the cylinder needles 3 :are guided so that the latter will perform an up and down movement when needle cylinder 1 rotates about the central axis of the machine driven by a pinion, not shown, meshing with the gear crown 14. While bearing face 51 supports the Weight of the needle cylinder, cylindrical bearing face 52 centers the needle cylinder by engaging the circular inner surface of the same.

The cylinder support ring 7 rests on the base portion 8 of the machine which may include three angularly spaced legs.

Cylinder support ring 7 has bearing face 52 on an inner cylindrical portion which is for-med with an annular duct 47 communicating with the space bounded by needle cylinder 1 and dial 2 through a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 48. A circular flange 57 closes recess 43 closed by a cover 43a.

duct 47 and has circumferentially spaced openings into which tubes or hoses 49a, 49c, 49d project. These tubes are connected to a main tube 49 connected to a blower, not shown, so that air is blown into duct 47 and through openings 48 into the inner space Within the needle cylinder 1 in direction of the arrows B and passes in the direction of the chain line y into the annular gap between the needle carrying portions of the needle cylinder 1 and dial 2 which constitute needle carrier means. As is known to those skilled in the art, cylinder needles 3 and dial needles 4 move into and out of the region of this gap during knitting operations, and a circular fabric is gradually formed which travels into the inner space formed by needle cylinder 1 and dial 2. Due to the fact that air .is blown past the fabric and the threads of which loops are formed by knitting needles 3 and 4, any dust developed during knitting operation by abrasion from the thread is blown out of the gap into the chamber II which surrounds the gap and working area of the machine.

Spaced columns 22, of which only one is shown in chain lines are supported on the top face of the cylinder support ring 7 and'have tops on which dial support means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 11, are supported.

Dial support means 11 include a substantially circular top wall 34 integral with a hub portion 33 and having an outer annular portion formed by circumferentially spaced substantially radial ribs 39 connected by an outer annular peripheral rim 38. A thicker circular portion 34a is .provided between the top wall portion 34 and the ribs 39. Horizontal wall portions connect ribs 39 where the structure rests on the tops of columns 22.

A large gear 53 has a hub 53a resting on the annular top face of hub portion 33 so as to be turnable on the same together with a shaft 13 which is secured to hub portion 53a. Shaft 13 has at its lower end a projecting .flange 50 on which the hub of the dial 2 is supported. This hub is secured to shaft 13 for rotation therewith so that the dial 2 and its needle carrying portion 2a rotate with shaft 13 and gear 53 when the latter is driven by a pinion, not shown, in synchronism with gear 14 of the needle cylinder.

Sleeve is disposed within hub portion 33 and has an outwardly projecting flange secured to the dial cam box 6 on which di-al cams 6a and 6c are mounted. The butts 4a of the dial needles 4 project into a cam track formed between the dial cam 6a, 60 and are advanced and retracted in radial direction when dial 2 rotates with shaft -13 relative to the stationary dial cam box 6. Thread guide means are provided at each of the circumferentially spaced knitting stations of the machine and mounted on the dial cam box 6.

Due to hub portions 53a and 2b, shaft 13 is prevented from axial movement by sleeve 10. Sleeve 10 with dial 2, shaft 13 and gear 53 can be raised a few millimeters by suitable manually operated means, not shown, whereby the width of the gap between the needle carrying portions of the needle cylinder and of the dial can be adjusted. In this manner, the size of the newly formed loops can be influenced. It is also possible to turn sleeve 10 within hub portion 33 a few degrees in order to regulate the coulier motions of the dial needles which is accomplished by a worm gear transmission, not shown, in a known manner, and since such a transmission is selflocking, no turning movement of sleeve 10 in hub portion 33 is possible during normal operations. These constructive features are known, and not an object of the invention.

Cylinder support ring 7 has a cylindrical outer portion 7a to which a ring 9 is secured. Ring 9 extends around the entire periphery of the machine and has an annular This recess is used for Bowden cables by which certain patterning operations are controlled, and also for electric wires for drive motors at the several knitting stations of the machine. This construction has no bearing on the present invention. Above recess 43, an annular duct 44 is provided in accordance with the present invention and communicates through a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 45 with the chamber II which surrounds cylinder cam box 5, needle cylinder 1, dial 2, and dial cam box 6. A tube 44a is connected to duct 44 and to an exhaust fan means, not shown, for drawing air out of duct 44 and consequently through openings 45 in direction of the arrows s out of chamber II. Ring 9 has a rim portion 9a projecting above cylinder-support ring 7 and being formed with openings 45, and with a pair of adjacent circular grooves 9b confronting a corresponding pair of circular grooves 38b in rim portion 38 of dial support means 11.

Transparent wall sections 42 are mounted for sliding movement in grooves 912 and 38b and can be placed in a position in which they form a substantially circular transparent wall surrounding chamber 2 and closing the same. When some of the transparent wall sections 42 are shifted in the grooves, an opening is formed between rims 38 and 9a, permitting access to the cam boxes and to the needle carrying rotating elements 1 and 2.

The spaces between the radial ribs 39 are also closed by transparent walls or panels 40 which have openings with eyelets 41 through which threads are guided at the several knitting stations into chambers II and to needles 3 and 4. Otherwise, the transparent panels 4 completely close chamber II, although they may be detached if access to the chamber is desired.

When transparent walls 42 and 40 are in place, a completely closed housing with an annular chamber II is formed around the cam boxes and the needle carrying portions of the needle carrier means 1 and 2 preventing any extraneous dust from falling onto the needles or other moving parts of the machine. However, dust developed during the knitting operations can be carried through the annular gap between the dial and the needle cylinder by air entering through tube 49, annular duct 47 and openings 48 into the inner space IV. The dust is then exhausted through openings 45.

A thread guide housing 15 is mounted on top of dial support means 34. Thread guide housing 15 has a bottom wall 54 and a circular curved side wall terminating in a peripheral flange portion formed with a circular recess 30. Thread guides 19 project in the region of the knitting stations from the flange of housing 15. Housing 15 .has a circular bottom face 72 resting on a corresponding circular top face 31 of annular portion 34a. An annular duct 35 is formed in portion 34a and communicates through openings 36 with chamber II. Part of duct 35 is formed by a recess 32 in the bottom face of housing 15 and openings are provided into which air hoses 37a, 37c, 37d are inserted. Circular walls 54 and 34 form another chamber III in which gear 53 and hub 53a are located.

Cap wall means 23 and 24 form a housing portion 16 for supporting thread transporting means 17 and thread spindles 18. The thread transporting means 17 are provided at each knitting station, and are preferably smooth cylindrical rollers driven by electric motors disposed within the hollow rollers. 'Electrical cables for supplying the motors are preferably located in the annular recess 30 which is closed :by the annular bottom surface 29 of wall 2-4 which rests on two annular top faces '25 of the flange of housing 15. Electrical cables may also lead to the motors within a chamber 1 formed between the capshaped housing 16 and the thread guide housing 15. The thread passes from spindles 18 to thread guides provided in a position above the cap wall 23 and from the same downwardly to the respective thread transporting rollers 1 7 which supply the thread through thread guides 19 and 41 to the knitting needles in chamber II. The higher thread guides are mounted on arms of a rod 21 secured to the center of the top wall 23. The details of the arrangement are not an object of the invention and therefore not illustrated.

In the closed chamber I formed by circular walls 23, 54 and annular walls 24 and a, blower means 28 are mounted. Tangential blower means, such as a cross flow fan, are preferred. The blower means have a housing with an inlet 28a communicating with an opening 26 in wall 23 which is closed by screen and air filter 2 7. The outlet 28d of blower 28 is connected to hoses 37a, 37c, 37d by which air is blown into annular duct 35 to pass through circumferentially spaced openings 36 in direction of arrows B into chamber II.

Inwardly of the annular portion 34a of the dial sup port means 1-1, an annular recess 55 is provided in which circumferentially spaced lamps 56 are mounted. Lamps 56 illuminate chamber II and the knitting area to facilitate inspection of the same through the transparent walls 40 and 42. A particularly advantageous elfect of lamps 56 is illumination of transparent wall sections 42 from the inside whereby reflections of the outer surface of a transparent wall section 42 are eliminated which would develop if only extraneous light would be used for illuminating chamber II. During operation of circular knitting machine, no dust developed by other knitting machines or textile devices can fall on the needles and knitting area since wall means 34, 33, 6, 5, 7, 42 and 40 form a closed annular chamber around the knitting area. Nevertheless, the knitting operations can be observed through the transparent wall sections 42 or 40.

While in this manner the machine is protected from extraneous dust, some dust is developed during the knitting operation by the abrading action of the moving parts of the knitting machine on the knitted threads. Dust on the fabric and on the knitted thread is blown out of the inner space IV through the gap into the annular chamber II, since air blown into tube 49 passes into annular duct 47 and from there through openings 48 into the interior space IV. The tubular fabric is located inwardly and above the openings 48 and passes through the center circular opening formed by the inner portion 7b of the cylinder support ring 7.

Dust blown out of the annular gap between the dial and the needle cylinder into annular chamber II may settle in this chamber, and in order to prevent such occurrence, air is blown by blower 28 onto the annular duct 35 and passes through openings 36 into chamber H where it stirs up the dust and develops air tubulence in which dust is suspended. The exhaust fan means, not shown, connected to tube 44a draw the air and the dust out of chamber II through openings 45 and annular duct 44. In this manner, the working area is completely free of dust, which results in reduced wear of the moving parts of the machine, and a more reliable operation of the tongues of the knitting needles 3 and 4. Blower means 2-8 and the corresponding hoses are fully protected in the closed chamber I, and gear 53 and the bearing faces of hub portion 36 and sleeve 10 are also located in a closed chamber 3 and protected from dust.

Since the closed chamber II according to the present invention would render the knitting area's very dark and d-iflicult to inspect through the transparent walls 42 and 40, lamps 56 are provided which illuminate the working area to permit observation of the knitting operations through the transparent walls.

Inv the event that access to knitting area is desired, transparent wall portions 42 can be shifted in grooves 9b and 38b to provide openings through which the working area can be reached.

The construction of the present invention renders it possible to enclose existent knitting machines of standard construction without substantial structural changes. The thread transporting means '17, and the thread guide 19 and 41 can be provided at the required positions in relation to the knitting stations although closed chambers I, II and III are provided in accordance with the present c-ircumferentially spaced openings 45, 48, 36 assure a uniform distribution of the air currents around the central axis of the machine. The blower connected to tube 49 and the exhaust fan conected to tube 44a, not shown, are preferably mounted in the hollow legs 8 of the machine. Due to the fact that the air streams out of openings 36 impinge the air stream passing through the gap between the needle cylinder and dial, particular turbulence is created in the region of the knitting operations so that removal of dust is assured.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of circular knitting machines difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a knitting machine having the knitting needles enclosed in a knitting chamber from which air is removed and provided with transparent walls for ob servation of a knitting operation, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the forgeoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constiute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, supporting means; a pair of needle carrier means movably supported on said supporting means and having cooperating portions for performing knitting operations; and housing means for said needle carrier means carried by said supporting means and including at least one transparent wall located opposite said cooperating portions for observation of said portions and of knitting operations. 2. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; and wall means including a first Wall located above said dial and having an outer peripheral rim, a second wall below said gap and said portions and having an outer peripheral rim parallel to said first mentioned peripheral rim, and transparent wall means permitting observation of said gap and located between said rims surrounding said portions spaced from the same.

3. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; and wall means including a first circular wall located above said dial and having an outer peripheral rim, a second circular wall below said gapand said portions and having an outer peripheral rim parallel to said first mentioned peripheral rim, said rims having parallel circular grooves confronting each other, and a plurality of transparent walls permitting observation of said gap and located between said rims surrounding said portions spaced from the same, said transparent walls being guided in said grooves for sliding movement to positions permitting access to the space within said wall means and to said needle carrying portions.

4. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; and wall means forming a chamber around said portions and said gap and including a top wall above said dial having an outer annular portion formed by spaced radial ribs, and transparent wall means disposed on said outer annular portion and resting on said ribs so as to permit observation of said needle carrying portions and of said gap.

5. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; and Wall means including a first circular wall above said dial having an outer annular portion formed of spaced radial ribs and having an outer peripheral rim, a second circular Wall below said gap and needle carrying portions and having an outer peripheral rim parallel to said first mentioned peripheral rim, said rims having parallel circular grooves confronting each other, first annular transparent walls for observation of said gap and guided in said grooves for sliding movement to positions permitting access to said needle carrying portions and to said gap, and second transparent walls disposed on said outer annular portion and resting on said ribs, said second transparent walls being formed with openings for the passage of threads to said needle carrying portions.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, supporting means; a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap and being movably mounted on said supporting means; housing means secured to said supporting means and forming a chamber around and outside of said portions and said gap and including at least one transparent wall opposite said gap for observation of said portions and of said gap; and means mounted on said housing means in said chamber for illuminating said chamber to prevent extraneous reflections on the outer surface of said transparent wall.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; wall means including a first circular wall above said dial having an outer annular portion formed by spaced radial ribs and having an outer peripheral rim, a second circular wall below said gap and needle carrying portions and having an outer peripheral rim parallel to said first mentioned peripheral rim, said rims being located outwardly of said needle carrying portions radially spaced from the same and having parallel circular grooves confronting each other, first annular transparent walls for observation of said gap and guided in said grooves for sliding movement to positions permitting access to said needle carrying portions and to said gap, and second transparent walls disposed on said annular portion and resting on said ribs, said transparent walls being formed with openings for the passage of threads to said needle carrying portions, said wall means forming an annular chamber surrounding said needle carrying portions; and means within said chamber mounted on said first circular wall above said dial for illuminating said chamber to prevent extraneous reflections on the outer surface of said transparent wall mean-s.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial ca-m box above said dial; dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, a substantially upright annular wall between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; first air moving means for blowing air into said chamber; and second air moving means for sucking air out of said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

9. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; a cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam bax above said dial; a dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top Wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall. portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, transparent walls between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; first air moving means for blowing air into said chamber; and second air moving means for sucking air out of said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination a needle cylinder and a dial having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap, a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; a cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam box above said dial; a dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, a substantially upright annular wall between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; said outer annular wall portion of said circular top wall being formed with a first annular .duct having a plurality of first openings communicating with said chamber, and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means being formed with a second annular duct having a plurality of second openings communicating with said chamber; blower means connected to said first annular duct for blowing air through said first openings into said chamber; and exhaust means connected to said second annular duct for removing air from said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

11. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial respectively having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam box above said dial; dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, a substantially upright annular wall between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; cap wall means having an outer circular wall supported on said outer annular wall portionof said circular top wall, said outer circular wall being adapted to support thread transporting means and thread guide means; first air moving means mounted in the interior of said cap wall means and communicating with said chamber for blowing air into the same; and second air moving means for sucking air out of said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

12. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap, said needle cylinder and said dial forming an inner space communicating with 9 said annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; a cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam box above said dial; a dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, a substantially upright annular wall between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; said outer annular Wall portion of said circular top wall being formed with a first annular duct having a plurality of rfirst openings communicating with said chamber, and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means being formed with a second annular duct having a plurality of second openings communicating with said chamber; first blower means connected to said first annular duct for blowing air through said first openings into said chamber; second blower means connected with said inner space for blowing air into the same and through said gap into said chamber; and exhaust means connected to said second annular duct for removing air from said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

13. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder and a dial having needle carrying portions forming an annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; a cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam box above said dial; a dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer an nular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, said rims having confronting annular grooves, a plurality of substantially upright transparent walls located between said rims and guided in said grooves for sliding movement, said walls having a closed position forming a continuous air-tight transparent wall between said rims and permitting observation of said needle carrying portions, and an open position permitting access to said needle carrying portions, said transparent walls forming in said closed position with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; said outer annular wall portion of said circular top wall being formed with a first annular duct having a plurality of first openings communicating with said chamber, and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means being formed with a second annular duct having a plurality of second openings communicating with said chamber; blower means connected to said first annular duct for blowing air through said first openings into said chamber while said transparent walls are in said closed position; and exhaust means connected to said second annular duct for removing air from said chamber while said transparent walls are in said closed position whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

14. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein said outer annular Wall portion of said circular top wall includes circumferentially spaced radial extending ribs; and including transparent wall means supported by said ribs and permitting observation of said chamber, said last mentioned transparent wall means having openings for the passage of threads into said chamber and to said needle carrying portions.

15. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a need-1e cylinder and a dial having needle car- 10 rying portions forming an annular gap, said needlecylinder and said dial forming an inner space communicating with said annular gap; a cylinder cam box surrounding said portion of said needle cylinder; a cylinder support means having an outer annular wall portion projecting outwardly from said cylinder cam box and an inner portion supporting said needle cylinder for rotation about a vertical axis; a dial cam box above said dial; a dial support means supporting said dial cam box and said dial and including a circular top wall having an outer annular wall portion, said outer annular wall portions having parallel peripheral rims radially spaced from said needle cylinder and dial, a substantially upright annular wall between said rims and forming with said top wall and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means a chamber surrounding said gap and said needle carrying portions; said outer annular wall portion of said circular top wall being formed with a first annular duct having a plurality of first openings communicating with said chamber, and said outer annular wall portion of said cylinder support means being formed with a second annular duct having a plurality of second openings communicating with said chamber; a thread guide housing including a circular bottom plate, and a circular side wall supported on said outer annular wall portion of said circular top wall and adapted to support thread guides, said circular top wall and said circular bottom wall forming a closed intermediate space; cap wall means including a circular top wall and an outer downwardly depending circular side wall adapted to support thread transporting means and supported on said circular side wall of said thread guide housing so that said thread guide housing and said cap wall means form a closed cavity; first blower means mounted in said cavity connected to said first 'annular duct for blowing air through said first openings into said chamber; second blower means connected with said inner space for blowing air into the same and through said gap into said chamber; bearing means for supporting said dial located in said closed intermediate space; and exhaust means connected to said second annular duct for removing air from said chamber whereby dust is removed from the region of said gap.

16. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said inner portion of said cylinder support means is located adjacent said inner space and is formed with a third annular duct having openings communicating with said inner space; and wherein said second blower means are connected with said third duct for blowing air into said inner space.

17. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, a pair of needle carrier means forming a gap and having needles for performing knitting operations in said gap; supporting means movably supporting said needle carrier means; Wall means mounted on said supporting means enclosing said needle carrier means and forming with the same first and second chambers on opposite sides of said gap; means for admitting air into one of said chambers; and exhaust means communicating with the other chamber for moving air from said one chamber through said gap into said other chamber and out of the same whereby dust formed in said gap by knitting operations is removed.

18. A. knitting machine according to claim '17 wherein said wall means include walls forming a housing bounding said other chamber and enveloping said needle carrier means for protecting the same from extraneous dust, said housing having at least one transparent wall portion located opposite said gap for observation of said gap and of knitting operations.

19. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating needle carrier means forming a gap; first wall means on one side of said gap forming with said needle carrier means a first chamber communicating with said gap; second wall means on the other side of said gap forming with said needle carrier means a sec- 1 1 1 2 and chamber; means for blowing air into said first cham- References Cited by the Examiner bet and through said gap into said second chamber where- UNITED STATES PATENTS by dust formed due to knitting operations in said gap is blown into said second chamber; and exhaust means com- 2,944,414 7/1960 Malloy et 66125 municating with said second chamber for removing air 5 FOREIGN PATENTS and dust from the same. 2Q. A knitting machine according to claim 1 9 and ing fi gn cludlng blower means communlcatmg with said second chamber blowing air into the same for creating air t'urbu- MERVIN STEIN, Primary m lence in the same so as to prevent the settling of dust 1O whereby the removal of dust by said exhaust means is DONALD PARKER Exammer improved. R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KNITTING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORTION MEANS; A PAIR OF NEEDLE CARRIER MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND HAVING COOPERATING PORTIONS FOR PERFORMING KNITTING OPERATIONS; AND HOUSING MEANS FOR SAID NEEDLE CARRIER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE TRANSPARENT WALL LOCATED OPPOSITE SAID COOPERATING PORTION FOR OBSERVATION OF SAID PORTION AND OF KNITTING OPERATIONS. 